Spine
Lumbo-Sacral Spine
Evidence: confirmed
Gaenslen Test Special Test
Orthopedic Physical Examination & Clinical Assessment Guide
What is it used for?
- Provoking pain in the Sacroiliac Joint (SIJ).
How to Perform
- Position: Patient lies supine close to the edge of the table.
- Action: Patient hugs one knee firmly to their chest. The other leg hangs off the edge of the table (hyperextension).
- Force: Examiner pushes the hanging leg downward to stress the pelvis.
Interpretation of Results
- Positive Test: Pain felt specifically in the SI joint of the hanging leg.
Clinical Context & Limitations
The Gaenslen Test should be considered as one component of a comprehensive musculoskeletal assessment. No single special test has perfect diagnostic accuracy; thus, clinical decision-making should integrate test results with patient-reported symptoms, mechanism of injury, functional impairment, and relevant imaging.
Clinicians should be aware of potential false-positive results in patients with pain sensitisation, muscle guarding, or poor relaxation. For the Spine region, combining the Gaenslen Test with complementary examination tests significantly improves overall diagnostic confidence.
References
- Orthofixar.
